01<@Katie> [Day: Saturday, October 18, 2003. Time: About 2:00] 01<@Katie> [It is a fine day for a ballgame, and the ballgame we're interested in is the Fukukoka Daiei Hawks vs. the Saitama Seibu Lions! To make things more fun, this is a playoff game, with Lions at home, and one Sorata Kyon is the starting pitcher for this game.] 01<@Katie> [We open in one of the boxes, which is nicely appointed with large windows, a few chairs and tables, and even a lounge sort of area with a couch, easy chairs, coffee table, and a television. There's even a sliding door that can be pulled to seperate the room into two for further privacy should it be needed. The chaos outside, as people find their seats, is mostly lost in here.] <@Tomoe> Tomoe Sorata is wearing grey slacks and a designer grey woolen jacket over a cream turtleneck today, accessorized with a little blue-and-white silk scarf and simple blue earrings. Team pride! She arrived early and is sitting happily in one of the cushy armchairs by the huge windows. ( I put the box scores in a google doc, to make it easier to see the action and the line ups simultaneously: http://bit.ly/hzMJUC ) 01<@Katie> [Right, Tomoe's there already. XD Game's starting in fifteen or so. Session Start!] 06* @Katie opens the door and peeks in, then opens it the rest of the way and actually walks into the box, the distant noises of people rushing around to find their seats following her. She shuts the door behind her and they stop. 01<@Katie> Hello? 06* @Tomoe puts down her book and turns, then smiles. "Hello!" 06* @Katie smiles, looking a little relieved. "Haruko's not here yet? Kyon ended up inviting her, so..." She heads over to the window, or maybe her own seat. Katie's wearing blue jeans and a gray Lions t-shirt, as well as a blue and white Lions baseball cap. Her hair's in a ponytail, and she's carrying a satchel. 06* @Katie also, incidentally, has a scar across her throat that probably didn't heal quite right back when. 06* @Tomoe notices the scar now. Hm! "Ah, I see. No, it's just me at the moment," she says. "Although a nice young lady was here a moment ago taking requests for drinks and food. I went ahead an ordered some tea, but she should be back soon if you want something else." 06* @Katie is also carrying a sweatshirt, as her player reminds her that it's kinda chilly because it's October! 01<@Katie> Yeah, they do that... running thing, to boxes. It's usually better than going outside. 06* @Katie drapes her hoodie over her chair and sets her satchel down, then glances at the door. 06* @Tomoe nods. "Yes, it is quite hectic out there, isn't it!" 06* @Haruko tenatively opens the door. She's a ethnically Japanese college sophmore wearing a blue low cut blouse and a matching jacket overtop. A bit taller the average Japanese woman, the young engineer has also filled out a bit since Katie last saw her. Only some of the new weight is muscle. Her eyes are open wide at the opulence of the box. 01<@Katie> Yeah, and it's going to get *way* worse once the game starts. Hi Haruko. 06* @Tomoe gives a neutral smile to the newcomer. So this is Haruko! 06* @Haruko regains her bearings on that greeting and for once is relieved to see Katie. She then steps inside and bows to Tomoe. She makes a bet based on the resemblence to Kyon, "Your family has honored me with this invitation. Thank you." She bows again and then closes the door behind her, trying to convince herself that she belongs here. 06* @Katie grins a little, then makes with the introductions: "This is Haruko Kinsha. Haruko, this is Tomoe Sorata, Kyon's mother." 06* @Tomoe bows back, feeling buoyed by Haruko's attitude! How polite. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I'm glad to be meeting friends of my son!" 06* @Haruko bows again. "The pleasure is all mine. Your son has been a stalwart friend to me and I know that he did not become the man he is today without your guidance." Her tone has a practiced formality but her look shows gratitude. 06* @Katie does not roll her eyes at Haruko's practiced formality, but Haruko probably knows that she wants to. Or just can guess. It's good enough, really. 06* @Tomoe is almost flustered by all of this. Really! It's heartening, but the young lady is laying it on rather thick, isn't she? "Well! I'm sure the guidance of a good friend has been instrumental in seeing him through life's challenges, as well." She smiles. ^_^ 06* @Haruko smiles back. "Well, for that he may have Katie to thank more than myself." She gives Katie a wary smile, perhaps sensing the eye rolling. "But I tried my best." 06* @Katie 's eyes twinkle at the wary smile, and she reaches up to adjust something in her ears. 06* @Haruko then comes in and walks around one of the couches to take a seat facing out. Her smile gets a little warmer at the adjustment. As she turns around a prominent white bow shows in her long hair. The look might be a little young, but she commits to it, prominently displaying her team spirit. 06* @Tomoe is sincerely fascinated about meeting friends of Kyon's. Her son keeps himself to himself, so by meeting people he has bonds of friendship with she's getting to learn more about him! <@Tomoe> So, have either of you been to one of the Lions' games before? 06* @Katie comments to Haruko as she takes her seat, "That bow is cute." And then she looks towards Tomoe. "Oh yeah, plenty." She sits down herself, now, at her own seat by the window. 06* @Haruko 's bow isn't made of lace and is a bit ragged on the edges despite her best efforts. However, it does a good job of securing her bun. "Yes, although a good bit farther from the field." <@Tomoe> Yes, this is exciting, isn't it! 06* @Tomoe smiles. 06* @Tomoe seems to be in a cheerful mood ~ 01<@Katie> It is. Look, they're going to start soon. 06* @Haruko nods. "It will be fun to actually get a closer look at Kyon's pitches. It's almost like back at the high school games from here." She also tentatively smiles at the compliment from Katie. "Thanks. I like the shirt, go Lions!" 06* @Katie laughs. "Thanks. It was one of those shirts they threw into the stands, you know?" <@Tomoe> SUDDENLY, a young Japanese woman with bleached hair bursts in, a bit red-faced from carrying a two- or three-year-old boy. <@Tomoe> "Everyone, I'm so sorry, is this the box for players' families?" 06* @Katie looks over. "For Lions. I think Hawks have another box?" 06* @Haruko grins at Katie's comment. "How lucky!" She then looks to the youg Japanese woman and smiles over at the toddler. "Hi there." 01<@Katie> [And the speakers start, rudely interrupting the conversation, piped directly (and somewhat loudly) into the box itself, announcing the Hawks starting lineup first, through batting order to end with the pitcher. That Katie starts at, and she glares at where the sound is coming from.] <@Tomoe> The young woman winces a bit at the noise, and lets her son down. He immediately runs off and glues his face and hands to the window. "Oh, thank goodness," she smiles, closing the door behind her. "I'm so sorry for my interruption. I'm Ohsaki Mayumi, Ohsaki Yutaro's wife. And that's Kenichi." <@Tomoe> "MAMA STARTING," Kenichi says loudly, runs to grab Mayumi's hand, and attempt to drag her to the window. "Starting, mama." 06* @Haruko stands up but holds off on introductions, smiling at the enthusiasm. <@Haruko> (Ah, they do have a designated batter, so we won't see Kyon hitting) 06* @Katie winces a little, again, and says, "Kenichi's very enthusiastic." 01<@Katie> (Yeah.) <@Tomoe> "Isn't he?" ^^; Mayumi grudgingly lets her son drag her to the window. 06* @Tomoe smiles a little awkwardly. Ah! "It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Sorata Tomoe, Sorata Kyon's mother." <@Tomoe> "Oh, it's a pleasure to meet you as well! Sorata-san is a very good pitcher." 06* @Tomoe smiles! 01<@Katie> [The Hawks' pitcher is announced now, and interestingly he has a Western name: Brian Falkenborg. To all of this, nearly half of the crowd outside is going crazy.] 01<@Katie> [Now the Lions' lineup starts to be announced, and the other half of the crowd goes slightly more crazy. The television, by the way, has turned on to display the game.] <@VoidofNozumo> (I'm back, and Adele needs some GM brackets. LIke these right here! [[[[[]]]]]) 01<@Katie> (Aw, how nice of him to bring them for you!) <@Haruko> Well, it is the play offs. It's a good time for enthusiasm. ::She gives a quick bow:: Kinsha Haruko, I'm a friend of Sorata. And this is his girlfriend Katie Andrews. 06* @Katie smiles and waves. <@Tomoe> (what are GM brackets? o . o) 01<@Katie> ([ ] things to indicate that we're doing scenery or things that our characters aren't.) 01<@Katie> (So NPCs and such.) 01<@Katie> (It's okay, I think we're all following just fine. :D) 01<@Katie> ('tis just generally convention for us.) <@Haruko> (Yup.) <@Tomoe> (like this?) ["Oh, nice to meet you!" Mayumi says in heavily accented English. She extends a hand to Katie, for shaking. "Are you American?"] 01<@Katie> (Yes!) 06* @Katie blinks, and then she shakes Mayumi's hand with some delight. "" she says, also in English. "" <@Tomoe> (yes Katie has already said things in Japanese to Mayumi. But she sort of forgot, since it doesn't make sense in her head that someone with an English name would speak Japanese) 01<@Katie> (Hey, Katie will TOTALLY use and abuse this opportunity to speak in her native tongue!) 06* @Haruko seems to be following. A little. English is hard! 06* @Tomoe zones out a bit. English! She sort of can't be bothered. 01<@Katie> [Ohsaki Yutaro is announced, playing right field and batting fourth!] <@Tomoe> ["" Mayumi says, excitedly. ""] <@Tomoe> (so many brackets!! 9_9)) 06* @Haruko walks over to the window while whipping out her phone and glancing at it for the moment. She sits by Kenichi and points out to right field as the players practice before the national anthem. "Is that your dad?" 01<@Katie> (Damn, I've toured WIU. Seriously considered going briefly.) 06* @Haruko totally has no idea what means. Hopefully the kid will stick to Japanese like a normal person. <@Tomoe> (really? I picked a place sort of at random. It's the first universty that came to mind that is sort of not very well known and sort of in the middle of nowhere ^^;) 01<@Katie> [Katie shakes her head. ""] 01<@Katie> (Yeah, apparently they have a really good golf team. Who'da thunk.) <@Tomoe> [Kenichi is literally jumping up and down. "Daddy daddy daddy daddy! Mama it's daddy! MAMA, IT'S DADDY!" He pulls at her hand again!] <@Tomoe> [Mayumi excuses herself briefly from the conversation ^^; She goes and crouches down to pick up her kid, by the window. "Yes it is! Want to wave to daddy? He knows we're here, wave to daddy!"] 06* @Katie watches Kenichi jump up and down like a superball. Hopefully he won't get extra sugar today. <@VoidofNozumo> (Poor Katie's ears.) 01<@Katie> (Oh, I have earplugs, and I am USING THEM THANK YOU.) <@Tomoe> [Kenichi waves a lot! And indeed, on the field a player gives a wave in the direction of their box. He couldn't possibly see his kid, but clearly they planned this ahead of time.] 01<@Katie> (Anyway, only reason I know anything about it is I applied to like every state university in Illinois in an effort to be accepted somewhere to get my bachelor's. So. ^^) <@Tomoe> ["DADDY WAVE! MAMA YOU SEE? MAMA DADDY WAVE!" Kenichi shrieks, clearly overcome with hysterical delight.] 06* @Haruko waves at him and then over at Kyon. She looks a bit surprised to see the wave back and says quietly to herself, "I guess baseball players have good eyes?" <@Tomoe> [Mayumi puts her son down, smiling warmly. Ah, being a mom is tiring, but it's worth it. "Mm hm, something like that," she gives Haruko a wink!] 06* @Tomoe is finding this so darling. 06* @Katie closes her eyes briefly and sits down, all of the cuteness of the scene lost to the loudness that is the child. She reaches up to mess with her ears a little more; she's wearing what may be hearing aids, or adjustable plugs. 06* @Haruko grins and nods. Then after a second she actually gets it and grins a bit wider. 01<@Katie> [More lineup is announced, ending with Sorata Kyon! This is followed by the start of the national anthem.] 06* @Tomoe is noticing this. Ah... So Katie is hearing impaired! Kyon hadn't mentioned that. She decides to politely refrain from drawing attention to it for any reason. 01<@Katie> (Well, impaired is one way to look at it. :D) <@Tomoe> [Mayumi enjoys the moment of grown-up understanding shared with Haruko! "Shh, Ken-chan, let's be quiet for the anthem, okay?"] <@Haruko> (Anthem, for the curious: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L4C4b0RitY ) <@Haruko> (Also, my favorite cartoon relatign to the anthem.) <@Haruko> ( http://comics.com/get_fuzzy/2011-03-03/?Page=2 ) 06* @Haruko stands up straight for the anthem. Go Japan! 01<@Katie> (WAIT THAT'S NOT AN ENDING) 01<@Katie> (That comic is right. Japan's anthem is just a tease.) 06* @Katie stands again and removes her hat! Curses for sitting like that! But then the anthem is over, since it's frankly pretty short, and she sits again. <@VoidofNozumo> (Unlike ours which is just a terrible drinking song slowed down?) 01<@Katie> (What, that isn't what it is?) 01<@Katie> [And then it is announced: PLAY BALL! Hooray!] 06* @Tomoe stands properly, singing very softly. And then sits down again! It's starting! 01<@Katie> (Everyone's got the play by play, so can reference whatever in order.) 06* @Haruko steps out of the way to see where the actual family members will sit. 01<@Katie> (And don't need to reference everything, 'course. ^^) 06* @Tomoe is sitting in one of the cushy armchairs by the window, the one she selected earlier, second from the right. Mayumi came in last, so is waiting to see where the others will sit, but Kenichi is glued to the glass on the far left, where two windows join at a right angle. <@Tomoe> (back in a sec!) 06* @Katie is seated next to Tomoe, on the left. Sitting down is the thing to do! <@Tomoe> (so right next to the loud kid?) 01<@Katie> (No? I thought there were four chairs?) 01<@Katie> (And the kid would probably be on Tomoe's right, since that's where the corner is. So actually AWAY from the loud kid. ^^) <@Tomoe> (there's another corner on the left, which was where I'd put him, but either works! Let's have him be on the right then :P) 01<@Katie> (Okay yay!) <@Tomoe> (or Katie can take the opposite corner) <@Tomoe> (I don't mind. I just basically had him run in a straight line from the door ^^;) 06* @Haruko sits next to Katie, which gives an extra buffer against the kid if I'm envisioning this right. "Tamura has a good on base percentage, but I think Kyon can take him." <@Tomoe> (ack I'm all confused now. Is it kid - haruko - tomoe - katie?) <@Haruko> (Heh, the picture may actually be hurting more than it helps) 01<@Katie> (If I'm next to Tomoe, then it should proooobably be Haruko - Katie - Tomoe - Kenichi/Mayumi.) <@Haruko> (Or just have Haruko pull up an easy chair to be one row back) <@Haruko> (So kid - mayumi - tamoe (Haruko) Katie) 01<@Katie> (Either way, kid's next to Tomoe!) <@Tomoe> (I doubt the kid needs his own chair.) 01<@Katie> (Yes.) <@Tomoe> (oh dear ^^ okay!) <@Tomoe> (that works!) 06* @Tomoe is looking at the fact sheet that was left in the box before the game. The players and their stats are listed... 06* @Tomoe she's trying to understand it. 06* @Haruko gives a quick cheer as Tamura gets out. She then shoots an apologetic look to Katie and whispers, "Sorry... force of habit." She then looks over to Tomoe, "Have you been to many games?" 06* @Katie shakes her head at Haruko and taps the plug in her left ear in a 'go ahead and cheer' sort of way. <@Tomoe> "I've been to most of his little-league games, of course," Tomoe smiles. "But I've only seen him play twice since then! It's so exciting to see him out there. He always has loved baseball, you know." 06* @Haruko makes eye contact with Katie and grins widely she then replies. "Oh, what was Kyon like back then? A serious little child? I can't imagine him cheering like Keichi." 06* @Katie catches that look and matches Haruko's grin. This could be awesome. 06* @Tomoe thinks about this. 06* @Katie gets distracted, clapping as Kyon strikes out the second batter. Well, he was rather a serious boy. Do you know, he actually scolded us sometimes? As if he was the parent. It was very shocking but it was so cute that you couldn't stay mad! 06* @Haruko tries to keep it to giggles at that comment. Must be appropriate in front of Kyon's mother. She completely misses the strike out while transfixed on that image. 06* @Katie then turns, "Wait, he scolded you?" 06* Tomoe smiles. "I think it took him a while to understand that although we could scold him when he did something we found inappropriate, he wasn't really supposed to do the same to us." 06* @Katie laughs a little. "But it only makes sense, right?" Yes, but you don't really expect a five-year-old to suffer from an excess of logic. <@VoidofNozumo> ("Swords!" *fistshake*) 01<@Katie> (But he's not a sword. He's a wand. XD) (He's also a Sorata) 06* @Haruko just gets a distant look as she misses Kyon throwing a few too many balls. "He must have had a very stern expression." She lowers her voice a bit, "Your behavior is improper mother and father. I cannot allow homework to distract me from my practice." 06* @Katie blinks. "I didn't know you *could* have an excess of logic." It's hard to tell if she's joking or not. And then Haruko does that and she bursts out laughing, covering her mouth with both hands. (sorry, phone call, brb!) 06* @Haruko snorts a bit at Katie's comment. "Well, some logical people can be rather excessive." But she seems rather pleased with the reaction until she glances out to the field for a moment with a confused expression. "Wait, when did someone get on base? I wasn't even looking at my phone." 01<@Katie> That's Shibahara. He walked. Two strikes and four balls. 01<@Katie> [The Lions fans are on their feet right now, cheering like crazy for Kyon to strike out the next batter.] <@Haruko> Ah. Perhaps Kyon should scold the umpire. 06* @Haruko tries to maintain a serious expression while saying that. 06* @Katie grins. "Only if he's four. Maybe if aliens came down and hit him with a get-younger ray." 01<@Katie> Then he can scold the aliens. 06* @Katie bends to one side a little awkwardly, getting her satchel while still trying to watch the game. 01<@Katie> (Oh Adele, eaten by the phone!) <@Haruko> (/me nods. We should probably pause for the moment, lest we deny her a chance to respond to things.) 01<@Katie> (Like us making fun of her son? :D) <@Haruko> (Quite. I'm a little surprised that Haruko started it. I guess her amusement overcame her desire to suck up.) <@VoidofNozumo> (Too much time with her clubs, teasing is now default for dealing with males, even when they're not present.) <@Haruko> (Possibly. Although chances to tease Kyon from Haruko's end are pretty rare. She normally goes after easy prey like Satoshi.) <@Haruko> (Although less so since he asked her to stop.) 01<@Katie> (It's true, Haruko almost never teases Kyon, even from a distance.) 06* Tomoe covers her soft giggle with a dainty hand! Then the opposite team advances, and the teasing of Kyon by the two girls continues. "Oh dear, I hope you won't make the poor boy regret inviting his mother to share a booth with you," she says, smirking in an amused way that should be rather familiar to the both of them. 06* @Katie points out the window. "Look, look." And the batter hit the ball, badly, the third baseman picking it up and tossing it to first base before he could get there, ending the first half of the first inning. There is much cheering as the teams switch who's fielding. 06* Haruko cheers and then looks amused to recognize the family smirk. "I don't doubt that Kyon can defend himself. If he felt it necessary, I'm sure he could acquire a file of embarrassing stories about myself as a child." 06* @Katie then works on pulling her sketchbook and a pencil out of her satchel. [some time before this, and I only forgot because things got hectic, the hostess came back with genmaicha tea for four, and asked if anyone wanted anything. Kenichi requested orange juice and a soft pretzel, and Mayumi also asked for a pretzel; Tomoe offered to share their tea with Mayumi if she likes. Katie? Haruko? Snacks?] 06* @Katie totally asks for nachos and a Coke. Apparently the Japanese have brought over typical American snacks, in addition to their own. 06* Haruko would love some tea and after looking over the list for a bit and making a slightly pained expression she orders edamame. 06* @Katie thinks. Edamame and nachos... yeah, that sounds kind of gross. [the runner runs off to get that then!] 06* @Katie then opens her sketchbook and makes with the drawing as the game continues. 06* Tomoe isn't watching her exactly, but she can't help but notice the arting. "Are you drawing the field?" 06* Haruko pays less attention to the game now that Kyon's no longer up. She looks over at the drawing. "Katie is quite the artist. I still have a few of her drawings." 06* @Katie giggles a little. "No. I'm drawing Kyon the pitcher getting caught by a UFO de-aging ray." 06* Haruko looks a bit wistful at Katie's behavior and keeps her mouth shut for now. 06* Tomoe cocks a brow. "........Well, I think I should like to see that once it's finished." 01<@Katie> Sure, but it'll probably be really rough. 06* Tomoe nods. That's fine. "I'm sure it's better than what I could do, dear." (If you can't say something nice....) So, can we get any other stories about Kyon? ::Haruko adopts an overly formal facade but is more comfortable in it this time:: Our ability to be good friends for him is only enhanced by knowing about his background. <@VoidofNozumo> (*translation* I'm digging for blackmail material because I'm broke.) 06* Tomoe chuckles. "Hmm." She eyes Haruko with a bit of a sparkle. "If you like, but... only for a trade." 06* @Katie glances up at Tomoe, then says as an aside to Haruko (that Tomoe can certainly hear), "See, definitely Kyon's mom." 01<@Katie> [Meanwhile, Sakata just stole second, and the crowd goes carazy!] 06* Haruko holds up her tea cup and tries to manage a mysterious look. She doesn't quite pull it off, as her babble tends to confuse people but not intrigue them. "What do you have in mind... Oh, a double?" 06* Tomoe sits up a bit to see what's happening! 06* @Katie shakes her head. "No, see? Sakata just stole second." 01<@Katie> He walked earlier. Ah, theft, yay! 06* Haruko then resumes trying to look mysterious. [Kenichi clearly is too young to grasp the intricacies of baseball, and just keeps asking Mayumi if it's daddy every time there's a new player at bat. She's doing her best to calmly explain things to him.] 06* @Katie snerks. "Yes. Theft for the good of the game." 06* Haruko looks out. "See, he's already put the base back in place. No harm done." 06* @Katie blinks and looks at Haruko, trying to figure out if she's joking or not this time. 06* Tomoe watches the field, and thinks about childhood Kyon stories. Hmm... 06* Haruko tries to look mysterious. An impenetrable poker face that should be cracked by Katie in about half a second. Totally joking. 01<@Katie> Actually, he switched first and second. He must be very quick. 01<@Katie> Yes. Like a ninja. "Well, for about six weeks he was determined to become a long-jump champion. I think he was seven or eight." 06* @Katie turns her attention to Tomoe. "Oh, how did he do?" "He broke a dining room chair and needed two stitches." "He got good distance, though." 06* Tomoe *sip* 06* Haruko bites her lip at that. "Presumably by that age he knew not to scold you for inconvenient furniture placement." 06* @Katie giggles. Oh boy, even Tomoe snerks at that! "No. But I think that was the end of his Olympic dreams." Sad, but likely for the best. So what do you want in trade? I'm told I had a bad habit of disassembling things as a child. Although father did think it might have been part of my educational process. [And the cheers outside hush for a moment as Abe grounds out, but pick up with renewed fervor as Sakata safely reaches third.] 06* @Katie nods. "When I was little, my mom and dad told me that I could do anything if I put my mind to it. I wanted to be a bird. There was a lot of flight attempts." She claps for Sakata. 06* Haruko claps too and starts paying some attention to the game. No stitches I hope. "Oh! Well, that's, those are both very interesting stories!" Tomoe says, approvingly, and then also claps for Sakata a bit! "What I really meant, though, is if you had stories about *Kyon*. I apologize if I was unclear." She has a subtly mischievous smile. (The unspoken part of Katie's story is that she actually succeeded eventually!) <@VoidofNozumo> (And in the end THEY WERE RIGHT!) 06* Haruko thinks. "Apparently the big problem wasn't that I left them apart, it was that I put them back together wrong. The engine started smoking one day... but that's not about Kyon. Let's see..." <@VoidofNozumo> ( There was that one time he nearly set Jin on fi... wait, I'm not supposed to talk about that.) (yeah, have fun finding Kyon anecdotes from his high school years that are mom-friendly) [And the runner comes back in with the nachos, coke, and edamame along with any other orders mean while, Hara flies out and both parts of the crowd are not standing up.] <@VoidofNozumo> ( Either time with his evil identical friend? Naaah.) 01<@Katie> [Now Ohsaki is up to bat. LOOK IT'S KENICHI'S DAD] 01<@Katie> (If she said one of those, I'd kill her right then and there, in front of Tomoe and the little kid!) 06* @Katie makes with the doodling a little. "Well..." She pauses, waiting for Kenichi to go nuts once he realizes who's batting. You go first Katie, I may prepare myself by ordering something a little stronger than this tea. ::She puts in a request with the runner for some beer from the company that's getitng her this booth:: ["Look Kenichi, it's daddy!" Mayumi points! "DADDY!!!" Kenichi does, indeed, go ballistic. "Daddy look Kenichi? Daddy wave?" He starts banging the glass with his hand! "Ken-chan, don't hit. Daddy isn't looking at us now, he has to concentrate really hard! This is his work!" Kenichi stops banging. "Work?" "Yes. Shh now, let's watch him!" "OKAY."] 06* Haruko does have to take a moment to dig for her ID. As she actually can do it with a legit one this time. 06* @Katie eats a nacho while the kid goes crazy, then sips some Coke and says, "Right, so Kyon's... not really a 'friendly' guy. I guess this shouldn't be a big surprise, since you're his mom. He's so driven and focused, and he tries hard to be independent, which also makes it hard for him to, you know, really be friends with people." 06* Tomoe nods knowingly... "Yes. He's so intense! He was like that as a little boy as well." 06* Haruko shifts her attention back to the field. "Go Ohsaki!" With Kenichi flipping out its hard not to pay attention to the game, but she does try to pay attention to what Katie says to figure out what's kosher story-wise. 01<@Katie> Yeah, intense is a good word for it. 06* Tomoe realizes that maybe she should have gotten something to snack on as well. Hm. Maybe later in the game! 06* Tomoe is also wondering if there is more to Katie's story than that, or if she's done. 06* Haruko does place her edamame centrally, there should be enough for multiple people. "That or focused." She winces as Ohsaki starts accumulating strikes. 06* @Katie 's eyes grow distant as she talks. "And Kyon *especially* didn't like to have fun. We didn't get along very well, because he didn't think he needed friends and I... well, I guess I didn't like that. But we were around each other a lot - he was dating my friend and stuff." 01<@Katie> Anyway, once I was having a really rough day, and a bunch of friends... Haruko included, I think. "Oh is that so?" Tomoe wonders if Kyon's had a bunch of girlfriends he never told them about! Well, that would be within his rights and all. (sorry, you can continue your story, I didn't mean to interrupt) 01<@Katie> Oh, yeah. It wasn't very serious, but they dated for a few months. 06* Tomoe nods. 06* Haruko looks over, curious where the story is going. <@VoidofNozumo> (So many "bad" days to pick from!) 01<@Katie> Anyway. They went out to have a snowball fight, but I stayed inside all upset and stuff. I thought some of the problems my friends were having were my fault, and I didn't know how or why or what I did. And Kyon actually made me feel better. He told me to stay calm, watch what I was doing and what was going on, stay in control... trust other people. 06* @Katie 's voice breaks up briefly, then she laughs some. "It's funny *he* would say that. He's so bad at it. So he helped me feel better. Talked some sense into me, I guess." <@VoidofNozumo> (... That was one of those awesome sessions we just stole from Brett and ran away laughing.) 01<@Katie> And then, when I went out and joined the snowball fight, he showed up on the roof and rained snowball hell on us, and was all smirky about it. 'Tactics,' he said. I guess that's when I knew we were actually friends. 06* Haruko nods at that, but she looks a bit somber. 06* Tomoe has a gentle, somewhat surprised smile..... She wasn't expecting a sweet story like that. "I'm proud of him for doing so," she says warmly.(to the first part). 06* Haruko perks up at the end of the story. "Oh, I'd forgotten that." 06* Tomoe laughs! "Oh, Kyon!" 01<@Katie> [And Ohsaki strikes out. Oh no, Kenichi! The teams change positions.] [When Ohsaki strikes out, Kenichi turns to his mother. "Did we win?" She pets his hair. "Not yet, honey." "Daddy win?" "Daddy's doing okay. The game's just started." "Okay." He stuffs pretzel into his mouth.] 01<@Katie> [Part 1 End!]